AutoTempest is a site that aggregates classifieds listings for cars and other vehicles.
It collects listings from various sites, such as Craigslist, eBay Motors, and many others, making your life a lot easier if you are looking for classified car ads.
Today, I will be discussing the history of AutoTempest, including its founders and why it was created.
I will also be covering reviews of AutoTempest and listing some alternatives that you might find useful if you’re looking to consider it for your requirements.
Let’s get into it.
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AutoTempest History
AutoTempest has a long and interesting history. It was originally created as an offshoot of Searchtempest, so let’s first talk about that.
Searchtempest was originally called Craig’s Helper. It was a site designed to help people who were using Craigslist.
As I am sure you are aware, Craigslist is one of the most popular sites in the world. It is a free classified listing site, with different directories for different cities across the United States and around the world.
Craigslist has many categories, including for used vehicles but also for everything else under the sun – you can even use it to find friends or a job!
However, the problem with Craigslist was that it was difficult to search for listings from multiple locations at a time, due to the way Craigslist was created.
A guy by the name of Nathan Stretch started Craig’s Helper in 2006 to solve that problem. The site allowed users to search for classifieds on multiple cities on Craigslist at once – hence the name Craig’s Helper.
The site proved massively popular, and it eventually expanded from Craigslist to aggregate classifieds from eBay and Amazon as well, in addition to Craigslist. At that point, it decided to retire the name Craig’s Helper, as it no longer focused exclusively on Craigslist, and it renamed itself Searchtempest.
Nowadays, Searchtempest also brings results from Facebook Marketplace and other sites via Oodle. You can select which cities you want to search for, and you will get results from different cities on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, and you can open those results in new windows.
Searchtempest is not affiliated with Craigslist, which might be another reason it changed its name from Craig’s Helper. It makes money being an affiliate for eBay and Amazon.
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AutoTempest was started a year after Craig’s Helper as Hank’s Helper. It was an offshoot of Craig’s Helper and focused exclusively on cars.
There were many people who were only interested in buying used cars, so they weren’t interested in the other categories on Craig’s Helper. Nathan Stretch, the same creator of Craig’s Helper, created Hank’s Helper to cater to them.
AutoTempest is a category on Searchtempest, but it is also an entirely separate site. It had a major tool redesign in 2011, and it features a modern, sleek interface providing an excellent user experience.
AutoTempest now aggregates its listings from multiple sources, including:
- Carvana
- eBay Motors
- Cars & Bids
- TrueCar
- Cars.com
- And more
It’s easy to search for specific makes and models in specific cities or areas. There is also a tool that helps you price a new car by searching for data from nearby dealers.
AutoTempest Reviews
AutoTempest has been featured in major publications, like the BBC, About.com, and Jalopnik. It has been referred to as one of the best places to find used cars, and indeed it is, due to its simplicity and ease of use.
In fact, in a 2012 article, Jalopnik rated AutoTempest as the best place to find used cars online, listing it as #1 in its list of The Ten Best Places To Find Used Cars Online. Jalopnik is an influential magazine and news site that is popular among car enthusiasts.
On DollarBreak, AutoTempest received a 4.1-star rating out of five. One of the main disadvantages that led to the lower rating was the lack of ability to list and sell your car directly on AutoTempest.
However, AutoTempest isn’t really meant to be a site that helps you sell cars. It doesn’t manage any listings itself; rather, it is a site that is simply meant to aggregate listings from other, third-party sites.
It is free to use, and it does what it is meant to do very well. Nevertheless, the disadvantages remain.
Not only can you not sell your car on AutoTempest, but you also can’t buy from AutoTempest directly. And, since AutoTempest aggregates listings from third-party sources and private sellers, you can’t always know for sure whether you are dealing with an honest seller or not.
If AutoTempest regulated its own listings, you might have some sort of built-in protection as a buyer, but your experience can vary from one listing to another and from one partner site to another.
FinanceBuzz also gave AutoTempest a good review, but it pointed out another disadvantage. Since it aggregates listings from other sites, there are times when the information pulled from those sites may not be entirely accurate – for example, some of those cars may no longer be available by the time you see them.
Wise Bread gave AutoTempest a good review as well in its blog post covering it. User reviews on Wise Bread currently have AutoTempest at four out of five stars, with six votes.
Overall, I’d say that AutoTempest is an excellent site if you are looking for used cars online. Instead of searching on different sites independently, why not have one site where you can see all listings at once?
Otherwise, you would have to search first on Craigslist, then on eBay Motors, then on Cars.com, etc. That can be quite a hassle and take a lot of time – finding your dream car at a good price isn’t easy!
AutoTempest definitely makes your life a lot easier. However, it’s important to be aware of its limitations – it is simply an aggregator, and it does not monitor or review the listings you will find through the site.
It also doesn’t let you sell a car directly, instead partnering with other sites to let you sell your car.
AutoTempest Alternatives
1. CarGurus
CarGurus is an awesome site for finding old cars to buy. Personally, I found it to be the best alternative to AutoTempest, as it was easy to navigate and offers many options for buying cars.
In addition to used cars, though, you can also buy new cars.
Another option is buying certified pre-owned cars. These cars might be more expensive than regular used cars but cheaper than new cars while coming with the promise of quality.
Certified pre-owned cars have a manufacturer’s warranty and have been inspected before sale. That removes one of the problems that you will face when buying cars using AutoTempest; namely, the lack of quality control in the used car market.
You can browse certified pre-owned cars from different car manufacturers. The deals are awesome, with prices being close to regular used car prices, but without the stress that would come along with buying a used car.
CarGurus works with dealerships to offer financing – you can get a loan from one of the lending partners the site works with when buying your car, thus making it more affordable.
Another awesome feature of CarGurus is that it offers delivery on many of the cars sold on the site – those cars will be marked with a delivery icon. That means that you can widen your search and purchase cars from all across the United States instead of limiting yourself to sellers in your area.
You can also sell your car through CarGurus. It takes just a couple of minutes to get an instant quote – the service is available in most states.
Then, someone will come pick up your car from you. You don’t have to do anything– the driver will drive away with your car, and you will receive the cash.
The offer will be good for seven days, but if you drive an additional 250 miles before that, it will no longer be valid, as the additional miles can impact the cost of the car.
2. Autotrader
Another great alternative to AutoTempest is Autotrader. Founded in 1997, it is a lot older than AutoTempest.
It aggregates used, new, and certified pre-owned cars for sale from both dealerships and private sellers, helping you find the best deals for cars in your area.
You can search for cars of a certain make and model in your zip code or click on Find Cars by Budget to enter your budget details, such as how much you can afford to make in monthly car payments, your desired down payment, trade-in value, etc.
You can also sell your car with Autotrader – simply request a quote and get an instant offer online. Not only that, but there is also a trade-in option if you want to trade in your car for a better one without spending too much money.
Autotrader also has various tools, such as a monthly payment calculator and various other calculators, that will prove useful when selling your car.
I highly suggest checking out Autotrader even if you do use AutoTempest, as Autotrader is not included in the AutoTempest results, so you will be missing out on many opportunities.
3. CarMax
CarMax is a website where you can browse used cars. You can even prequalify for a loan with zero impact on your credit score.
One of the things that set CarMax apart from AutoTempest and other online car marketplaces is that it offers 24-hour test drives. Yes, you heard that right – you can take a car for a 24-hour trial before you decide whether to purchase it or not.
There are restrictions, of course. You must have comprehensive insurance (and a driver’s license), and you can only do this twice a month.
Plus, there is a limit of 150 miles per test drive, and you must return the car in a similar condition as you found it. Also, not all cars qualify for this option.
However, it’s an amazing offer that really lets you get a feel for how the car is. It is also one of the best ways to avoid buyer’s remorse when purchasing a new car, which is a common problem especially online, when you don’t always get to see the car before purchasing it.
Not only that, but there is a 30-day refund policy on cars you purchase through CarMax. There is a limit of 1500 miles before this offer expires, but this return policy does allow you to get a full refund on cars you don’t like.
Another way CarMax makes your life easier is by offering delivery on some cars. Again, it’s only available in some states and for some dealerships, and only within a 60-mile radius from your home.
Pickup may also be available at a dealership near you.
Selling a car on CarMax is definitely a possibility as well. You can get an instant offer online, within minutes, by filling out a few details.
That is available for most cars, although for some vehicles, you will need to get an in-person quote. Once you get your offer, you have seven days to redeem it – make an appointment and get your cash on the spot once your car is picked up.
4. Carsandbids.com
Carsandbids.com is an interesting alternative to AutoTempest because it allows you to participate in online auctions for cars, giving you a chance to get the best price possible for your vehicle.
You can browse auctions that were newly listed or which are sending soon – the ones that are ending soon give you a greater chance of winning the auction. You can also sort by cars that are on auction and are close to you or auctions that do not require any kind of reserve.
Vehicle history reports are required for every car sold on the site, so you know you will be getting a good car. Just verify that it has been maintained properly.
You can also sell a car with Carsandbids.com. You can get your car on auction in less than a week’s time – it is free to sell, and you will receive 100 percent of the sales price.
With over 10,000 auctions completed on Cars & Bids already and an 85 percent sale rate, you can be pretty confident that you will get your car sold if you use Cars & Bids.
What’s the catch, you may be wondering? Well, although it is free for sellers to auction their cars off on Cars & Bids, it is not free for buyers.
While it is free to browse the listings on the site, buyers must pay a commission of 4.5% when purchasing a car on auction, although that commission is capped at $4,500.
That cap doesn’t make that much of a difference to most people, as you probably are not spending over $100,000 on a car on the site, although you may if you find a vintage car that is worth a lot of money.
5. Bring a Trailer
Bring a Trailer, or BaT, is an auction type site for vintage, classic, and collector vehicles. If you are interested in those types of used vehicles, it is an excellent alternative to AutoTempest – being that there are live auctions, you can often get a good price on a really cool looking car.
If you have a vintage car to sell, submit the listing on the BaT website. An auction specialist will work with you to ensure the auction goes smoothly.
To prevent snipers, the auction clock is extended after each bid is placed by two minutes. In other words, unlike a traditional auction, the auction does not finish at a set time.
Instead, there must be a full two minutes since the highest bid in order for the auction to end. This is good for the buyer community, because it ensures that people are not using bots to snipe the auction and that there is sufficient opportunity for everyone to get a fair bid in.
Once the auction is over, the contact details of the buyer and the seller are shared with each other, so the two can communicate and arrange for the completion of payment and shipping, if necessary.
There are also comment threads on the auction so buyers and the seller can communicate about the vehicle being sold.
It is not free to sell a car on the BaT site, and there are different plans available fo sellers, depending on which kind of service you want. For example, the Plus Photography service includes the services of a professional photographer that will showcase your vehicle at its best, thus increasing the chances of completing your sale.
Not all vehicles are accepted for auction, as the site focuses exclusively on quality vintage cars that would interest its audience.
There are measures in place to ensure that the seller is well taken care of as well. Each bid is guaranteed with a credit card – a hold is placed on the card for five percent of the total bid.
If the bid is not the winning bid, that hold will be released.
It will cost the buyer a five percent fee, which is capped at five thousand dollars. Of course, you will not have to pay this fee if you do not win the auction.
6. Autolist
Autolist is a great site for finding used cars all across the United States. You can search by make and model and then enter your zip code or city to find local results near you.
One of the cool things about Autolist is that it has a mobile app with over seven million downloads. If you find AutoTempest hard to use on mobile, consider Autolist instead, as it offers a great mobile experience.
It also has several awesome categories to check out, such as sedans under $5,000 and pickups under $10,000.
In fact, there are price categories that go pretty low, including pickups, SUVs, and minivans under $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, and so on.
If you see a car you like, you can call the number provided or send a message online to check if it’s still available.
If you want to sell your car via Autolist, you can, with a 100 percent online experience. Submit your car details and get an instant offer.
Then, you can have your car picked up from your home – it is as easy as that! Once the car is picked up, you will get your money within two business days, either via check or by direct deposit.
Autolist works with CarGurus and its network of dealerships to facilitate selling your car.
7. PCarMarket
Another great alternative to AutoTempest is PCarMarket. It focuses on enthusiast vehicles, so you won’t find regular cars there, but if those are the cars you are looking for, it is one of the best auction sites to check out.
Listing fees for sellers vary based on whether they are listing a vehicle, parts, or other stuff. While PCarMarket won’t help you take pictures of your car themselves, they can coach you to help you take better pictures of your car and even find you a local photographer you can work with.
While a pre-purchase inspection is not required by the site, it will help you find more buyers and instill confidence in your vehicle. You also get to determine the reserve – you can lower it even when the auction is ongoing if you see that it is not being met and you really want to get your car sold.
After the auction is completed, the buyer and seller will be able to communicate with each other to facilitate the sale.
Wrapping It Up
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of AutoTempest’s history.
As you can see, despite being an awesome site that has been around for a while, it also has some drawbacks, which is why I listed some alternatives to assist you with your search – I liked CarGurus the best, and I think it’s the easiest way to buy or sell a car online.
I highly recommend checking out the auction sites in particular, as you can find awesome deals soon before auctions are set to finish, especially on specialty cars.
Of course, there are sometimes physical auctions near you, but it can be hard to join them if you don’t have the know-how or don’t have a dealership license, as many are closed to dealers only.
